A/N: Yes, I know I have like a million stories in progress and a few requests yet I won't write them. However, this is a request from anon on my tumblr from a while ago. I'm hoping it helps me find motivation for my other stories but I've been excited for this for a while. As always, enjoy (and leave reviews writers are struggling in our dwindling fandom).

Special thanks to quesera1 for helping edit this story :)

"Okay boys, do you have everything?" Erin Lindsay secured her badge and gun to her waistband before turning around to face her identical twin sons—Jackson and Cameron. "Backpacks?"

"Check!" Both boys replied as they stood ready at the door. They lived in a three bedroom condo alongside the river on the fifteenth floor. It had been a wedding gift from Voight and at the time, Erin was reluctant to accept such an extravagant gift from her pseudo-father.

"Kid, I'm happy for you. I remember when you first came to live with us and you were 100% set on not getting married. Now look at you. Soon-to-be married and soon-to-be mother."

"I know, it's just, this is big. There's no way we can accept this." Erin walked around the apartment, marvelling at the dark hardwood and the sight of the Chicago River from the floor to ceiling windows. "This is too big of a gift."

"Listen, Camille told me to wait until now to tell you this. But when she died, she made me promise that when you found a man, that I would buy you somewhere to live. Where you wouldn't have to worry about finances. It's all she wanted me to do. She wanted to see you get married, have children that she could spoil, and when she realized she wouldn't be around for that kind of stuff, she insisted that this would be a present from us—from her."

Tears welled in Erin's eyes that she stubbornly didn't let fall before accepting the open embrace from Voight.

"Lunch?"

"Check!"

"Apples?"

"Check!" Both Jackson and Cameron held out the bright red apples in their hands that they wanted to give to their teacher. Erin thought it had been cliche but after seeing it in a movie the boys were adamant they had to give their teacher an apple on the first day of school.

"Okay, then. Let's get you two to school!" Erin replied excitedly as she grabbed her keys off the counter and opened the front door. She checked the lock before walking behind the boys towards the elevator, letting one of them to push the button to signal it. Voight had offered to help her get the boys and ready for their first day of Kindergarten—concerned that the excitement of the first day would stress her out—but she declined. She was expecting the boys' father to accompany her to drop off, but he was pulled into work at the last minute and he promised he would see them as soon as possible.

As they arrived outside of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, Erin parked the car on the street intended for drop off before opening the back door to let the boys out. Compared to Jackson and Cameron—who were buzzing with excitement—Erin was incredibly nervous. Maybe she should've asked Voight to come after all.

Her little boys were growing up and starting school. And that made her scared for some reason. It must've been the instant realization that they were getting more independent by the day, and one day they wouldn't need her.

Pushing those thoughts out of her head, she opened the front door and motioned for the boys to go in. They made their way over to where the kindergarten class was located and waited alongside all the other families anxious to meet the teacher and to get the day started.

Erin observed the people in the hallway. Parents stood around, some moms fixing their child's hair or straightening their jacket. There were two men in the corner holding their daughter's hands, reassuring her that everything would be fine and that both of them would be there to pick her up after school was done. One dad had lifted his son into his arms and kissed his cheek, telling him that he loved him. Erin sadly looked down at her boys and thought about how they would've been able to have the same relationship with their father, if she didn't mess it all up. Sure, he loved them just as much as she did, but she feels like she took an important relationship away from Jackson and Cameron. And that's something she will never forgive herself for.

Erin's thoughts are interrupted when the door to the classroom opens and the teacher walks out. She peeks down to her sons and squeezes their hands in her own. When they look up at her with now anxious filled blue eyes, she gives them a reassuring smile before returning her attention to the teacher.

His back is currently turned to her but he is making an effort of talking to all the parents, turning his head and making eye contact. He instructs parents to help their child find their hooks and to hang their backpacks and coats there before saying goodbye and having the kids go into the class to get ready for their first day.

As soon as he finishes speaking, all the parents and children do as they are told. The hooks are located in alphabetical order so Erin looks closer towards the end of the wall. Cameron's name came first and was right next to Jackson's. She helped both boys hang their bags on the lower hook before draping their coats onto the top hook and led them towards to door. All three had become incredibly anxious as the time to separate neared.

They waited behind other parents that spoke to the teacher and when they were next in line, Erin told the both of them she loved them and hoped that she would be able to pick them up. If not, someone from the district would come by and take them for a snack before they would see each other again.

"You're gonna have so much fun! You'll learn so much and there's a whole class full of kids that will soon be your friends. You two will do great!" Erin kissed each of their cheeks again before standing up from her squatted position and motioning them to go inside.

"It'll get easier, trust me. First day is always the worst." The teacher's voice came from next to her as she watched Jackson and Cameron make their way towards the carpet area, sitting down next to each other amongst the other kids.

"Yeah, it doesn't feel like that." Erin turned her gaze from the boys over to their teacher as she spoke to him.

"Well, they'll be safe with me, you have my word." He extended his hand towards Erin before introducing himself. "I'm Jay Halstead."

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